Improvement in conductors for lightning-rods



v A. GOSS. Conductors for Lightning-Rods.-

No.196,350.' Patented Oct. 23,1877.

WITNEEEEE [NVENTUK %a% z/ N, FEYERS, PHOTQLITMOBRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OEE-IGEE ALoNZo eoss, or VERMILLION, DAKOTATERRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONDUCTORS FOR LIGHTNING-RODS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,350, dated October23, 1877; application filed June 11, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO Goss, of Vermillion, in the county of Clayand Territory of Dakota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Conductors for Lightning-Rods and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in conductors for lightning-rods;and it consists in an iron rod or brace, which extends nearly up to thepoint of the lightning-rod, to help the rod carry away the electricity,and in a trough shaped conductor, which is placed along the roof of thehouse, and in which the lightning-rod is placed, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The accompanying invention.

(0 represents a building of any kind, to which my invention is applied.Extending down across the roof of this building from the top to belowthe eaves is a trough-shaped conductor, c, in which the lightning-rod drests. This conductor is made on its outside of zinc, and lined on theinside with Russia iron. This trough or conductor is secured in positionby means of the strips or blocks of wood 9, and the zinc bands h, whichpass over the top of the conductor. The object of the wooden blocks isto prevent the Russia iron from coming in contact with the roof of thehouse. To the upper end of this conductor is fastened the drawingsrepresent my iron rod or brace 0, which extends nearly up to the top ofthe lightning-rod, and serves both to hold the rod in position and tohelp it carry away the electricity. The conductor serves also to helpcarry away the electricity, and does away with the usual insulators,which are used to secure the rod to the top of the house, and whichserve in a great measure to 0bstruct the free flow of electricity downthe rod. Where a large conducting-surface is added to the rod, as in thecase where one of these conductors is used, the electricity is carriedquietly beyond the surface of the house the instant it touches the pointof the rod, and thus the house is almost absolutely protected fromlightning. The post Zwill be inserted between the side of the house andthe lightning-rod, so as to prevent the lightning from jumping from therod into or against the house.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination with alightning-rod, a

trough-shaped conductor, placed across the roof of the house to receivethe rod, substantially as shown.

2. The trough-shaped conductor and light ning-rod, made from zinc andRussia iron,

and held in position by means of the blocks 9 and bands h, substantiallyas shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I i v i have hereunto set myhand and seal this 24th day of May, 1877.

ALONZO GOSS. 1L. s.] Witnesses:

J OHN L. J OLLEY, Tnos. A. ROBINSON.

